Draft law amending the Act on the Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union and the Feed Act (546 SE) – Second Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-01-21 14:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 55
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 58m
AI Summaries: 55/55 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The second reading of draft law 546 concerning the amendment of the Act on the implementation of the European Union's common agricultural policy and the Feed Act. The Agrarian Committee discussed the draft at its meeting on January 13th, confirming that no amendments were received by 5:15 PM on January 6th of this year, and editorial corrections were made with which the draft originator agreed. The leading committee adopted a decision to send the draft to the Riigikogu plenary session for the second reading on January 21st, and to conclude the second reading; and if completed, to schedule the third reading on January 29th, and put it to a final vote. This is an important regulatory step aimed at bringing Estonia’s legal order into compliance with European Union legislation while also taking into account local practices and experience in the implementation of the CAP. In addition, the discussion also covers topics relating to taxation and the administration of food market data (e.g., databases for fruits/vegetables) and the impact of working conditions and control mechanisms on producers.
Decisions Made 3
The Rural Affairs Committee adopted a decision to send the draft act amending the Act on the Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union and the Feed Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, to the second reading of the full session of the Riigikogu (Parliament) 546 on January 11th, and to conclude the second reading, and if the second reading is concluded, to conduct the third reading of the draft act 546 and to put the draft act 546 to a final vote on January 29th.
The Isamaa faction's proposal to interrupt the second reading did not receive support; the vote result was confirmed and the decision to complete the second reading remained in effect.
The Riigikogu completed the second reading of bill 546.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker in this discussion was biLjMj6qfEs, who raised several questions and responded to claims made by colleagues and the presenter; his role involved representing the committee/being a member of the national party faction. Position: other (committee member/committee representative), not directly on the left or right political axis.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
We are moving on to the second item on the agenda and will consider Draft Bill No. 546, the Government-initiated act amending the European Union Common Agricultural Policy Implementation Act and the Feed Act, in its second reading, with the presentation by Urmas Kruuse, the chairman of the Committee on Rural Affairs.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Rural Affairs Committee discussed Draft Bill No. 546 on the implementation of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy and the Feed Act amendments, and no amendment proposals were received. An editorial correction was made, and the lead committee decided to forward the Riigikogu plenary for the second reading on January 21, to conclude the second reading, to hold the third reading on January 29, and to put the bill to a final vote.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller invites listeners to submit questions and asks Aivar Kokk to perform.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
This draft is very important because it deals with data collections on the marketing of fruits and vegetables and with issues of quality classes for beef, pork, and lamb, but the speaker emphasizes that the discussion should consider an EU-wide value-added tax on food, and Estonia has remained almost the only one at the same level, although other countries want a reduced VAT for essential goods.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse said that such questions were not discussed, but tax policy is up to each country to decide for itself.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks Rain Epler to take the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticized the explanatory memorandum of the bill for excessive bureaucracy and asked whether monitoring of working conditions would become so strict and sometimes even absurdly harsh that, for example, incomplete compliance with the ladder-use safety guideline could reduce PRIA subsidies.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Although the substance of the question was difficult to understand, it does not raise much concern among agricultural producers and representative organizations, because producers are prepared to comply with the requirements within the scope of applicable laws and the powers of the Labour Inspectorate, and this is seen more as a general benefit that employers and contractors should apply in their day-to-day operations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asked Arvo Allerit to come and speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In Arvo Aller's speech he expresses a concern about how the conditionality of direct subsidies and the social conditionality applicable to all applicants are applied, and how the principle of equality applies to individuals who are not entrepreneurs and apply for support.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that the given question in this form was not considered, and therefore he cannot answer it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Aivar Kokkil to take the floor.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk said that the draft bill lacks the accompanying regulation drafts that would give the minister very broad discretion over the subsidies provided in the budget year, and he reminded that so far there has been an agreement that the regulation drafts would accompany the draft proposals, in order to prevent excessive power by a single minister.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi expresses his gratitude.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse said that future regulations are not a priori alongside the laws, but will be developed after the laws are adopted in cooperation with the sector and with entrepreneurs, and therefore these regulations have not been attached to this draft bill, and there have been few of them in many other draft bills as well.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Rain Epler to present the second question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks Urmas whether he dares to state with full conviction that, after the adoption of this bill, there will be no additional sanctions on farmers or excessive bureaucracy, citing the absurd demands and subsidy cuts that were reported at the end of last year.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse said that they are constantly monitoring whether bureaucratic regulations are excessive, so that Estonia's law would align with changes to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, and that the practical experience gained in implementation would justify the changes and increase legal certainty, but the problems must be resolved quickly, and there is a possibility to intervene regarding the solutions either at the level of legislation or at the level of ministerial regulations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Evelin Poolametsa onto the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets requests a brief clarification of what exactly "social conditionality" means in the context of this bill, since the amendments also affect its oversight mechanisms.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse said that in Estonia employer–contractor relations are clearly regulated by law, and they are supervised by the Labour Inspectorate, and although sanctions may be imposed in case of a violation, this is not a given, and Estonian companies do not see this as a bigger problem than in other European countries.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Mart Helme is invited onto the stage.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks how many more years remain until Estonian agriculture becomes permanently uncompetitive, and whether it would be fair to say that during 2030–2035 it has already ended due to high input and labor costs and restrictions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi presented only a note of thanks.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He is calling for certain activities to be stopped, and they must not be carried out any longer.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse said that although the topic was not addressed within the framework of the draft bill, entrepreneurs and agricultural producers see that increasing production efficiency ensures competitiveness, and although Estonian agriculture is larger than the European average, he does not see the sector disappearing in his capacity as chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee, because people always want to eat.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Jaanus Karilaidi to perform.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid thanked the chair of the meeting and the presenter, and said that he would allow a slight widening of the draft in the context of the competitiveness of land-based enterprises, against the backdrop of tax increases and unequal agricultural subsidies, and asked whether recent studies address two aspects — agricultural subsidies and taxes.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse pointed out that agricultural subsidies are divided into seven-year periods and are adjusted based on feedback to strengthen competition and create advantages for smaller entrepreneurs, that there are also annual subsidies, for example, larger start-up grants for small livestock keepers and for young farmers, and market access is important, whereas diesel fuel taxation at the European minimum level gives producers a significant competitive advantage.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Evelin Poolametsa to present the second question.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets noted that the legislative amendment would increase the administrative burden on entrepreneurs, and asked whether an impact assessment has been carried out, and how large it would be and how costly it could be for entrepreneurs.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse said that the administrative burden on entrepreneurs has not increased, but has begun to decrease; for example, now the payouts for applications and subsidies can be made over the course of a year, which reduces bureaucracy, and if money is left over, you do not have to go through the whole process again.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked, said that there were no more questions, opened the negotiations, and invited Arvo Aller to take the floor.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Arvo Alleri, Draft Bill 546 is too complicated with regard to social conditionality and potentially aimed at reducing direct subsidies, because inspections by the Labour Inspectorate and PRIA checks could reduce entrepreneurs' subsidies, while for private individuals it does not apply as strictly and their direct subsidies remain largely untouched.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi requests three more minutes.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Arvo Aller, the established requirements for occupational safety and social conditionality will increase the bureaucracy of agricultural producers and the frequency of inspections, since safety guidelines, risk analyses, and manuals for the use of ladders and for electrical work are required, as well as uploading culture pictures via the PRIA Iva app, which is why the EKRE faction submitted a motion to suspend the second reading, and it has been transmitted electronically.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief expression of thanks and a request addressed to Urmas Reinsalu.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu noted that laws increasing administrative burden create uncertainty and risks for entrepreneurs, and Isamaa does not support them, but wants European rules to be taken into account in such a way that bureaucracy is reduced, citing the impact of the plastic bottle cap system, which makes life uncomfortable and does not promote technological development.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi merely expressed a confirmation: "Exactly!"
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu called for reevaluating European over-regulation, and, using the metaphor of plastic bottle caps, stressed that we must stand together for rural life, agriculture and food producers, and not let regulation retreat to being solely about the donkey, mule and horse races.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
In the speech, gratitude is expressed, and it is requested to grant Urmas Kruuse the floor.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech emphasized that, for the protection of horse breeding, there is a need for clear and better-regulated laws, the proposals for which have long been submitted by entrepreneurs, and although, in the event of a violation, the Labour Inspectorate may allow time to remedy the breach and the final sanction depends on the circumstances, the seriousness of the violation, the damage and the risks are assessed, and the final practice at the EU level will only become clear in the first year.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks and says that he does not know which of them was ahead, and lets Aivar Kokk speak first, asking him to take the floor.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk criticizes that, according to the draft’s title, it endorses the implementation of the EU’s common agricultural policy, but in fact would give the minister excessive powers and would leave many important questions—the establishment of subsidies, budget accounting, interpretation of conditionality, and the roles of registers and PRIA—unclear.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi greets a colleague.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk confirms that the speech lasts about three minutes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They note, to their surprise, that there are still two left.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk emphasizes that the savings of the austerity plan and the expectations of additional costs (over 40 million and 50 cents to Elering) must be coordinated jointly with the European Union, and only after that will be implemented in Estonia, because separate decisions on poultry farming conditions and energy costs could adversely affect entrepreneurs and harm competition.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was an expression of gratitude and a request to Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler contends that Estonia strives to be at the forefront in certain fields, but European and national regulations, labour inspectorate checks, the PRIA app, and social conditionality increase bureaucracy, and he calls on farmers to form and maintain their own independent representative body that is independent of the state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi ends the negotiations and announces that there will be a vote on the EKRE faction's proposal to suspend the second reading of Bill No. 546, and to begin preparing for that vote.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul requests a ten-minute recess before the vote on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced a ten-minute break.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Dear colleagues, we are at bill 546; I am putting to a vote the EKRE faction's proposal to suspend the second reading of the Government-initiated bill implementing the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy and amending the Feed Act, bill 546.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The proposal did not gain support, as 18 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 49 against, and 0 abstentions, and the second reading of Bill No. 546 has been completed.